Wire binding machine



Aug. 24,1954

AFiled Jan. l0. 1949 A. E. CRANSTCN, SR,

WIRE BINDING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Trae/viv.:

Aug. 24, 1954 A. E. cRANsToN, sR 2,687,083

` WIRE BINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10. 1949 11 sheets-sheet 2 l0 if MMA/WAV Aug. 24, 1954 A. E. cRANsToN, sR 21,687,083

WIRE BINDING MACHINE med Jan. 1o, 1949 11 sheets-snaai s INVENToR. ,41. BERT E. Cen/vs ra/v BY V Se. MM MW ATTORNEYS Aug. 24, 1954 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 10, 1949 WIWI .u

MNNN

N d e s m. .n n T, M M R ,1 W@ m m 1 5 Sv m f ,4 m w /U Q m@ Y W B No. m I.| L .Mvl A fn *u N) l l l I Il. Q Vv f5 .I IIT Il lllll Aug. 24, 1954 A. E. cRANsToN, sR

WIRE BINDING MACHINE ll Sheets-SheeiI 5 Filed Jan. 10, 1949 ALBERT ECRANSTON 5a. w MM /i TTD/WM5 V5 Aug. 24, 1954 A. E. cRANsroN, sR 2,687,083

WIRE BINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 JNVENToR. H1. @Eer 'E Cen/vs ran"A Mia/M A. E. CRANSTON, SR

WIRE BINDING MACHINE Aug. 24, 1954 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. l0. 1949 INVENTOR. /LeEe-r E, CEM/.fron

BY 5e. @JK/M Aug. 2, 1954 A. E. cRANsToN, sa

WIRE BINDING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 10, 1949 INVENToR fkfer .EfC/fw/vJraN 4 BY 5E. l! j 'Arroz/Vey.:

Allg 24, 1954 A. E. cRANsToN, SR 2,687,083

WIRE BINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 IN VEN TOR. #1.5527 5 Cea/v5 mv @T1-ORNE YS All@ 24, 1954 A. E. cRANsToN, sR

WIRE BINDING MACHINE 1l Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Jan. 10, 1949 mms/Ton H1. Beer E. (n/v.; rgn E.

ug- 24 1954 A. E. cRANsToN, sR

WIRE BINDING MACHINE 1l Sheets-Sheet l1 Filed Jan. l0, 1949 /A/z/e/VTDR ALBERT :.cRANsToN sm Esgzf( Patented Aug. 24, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Albert E. Cranston, Sr., Oak Grove, Oreg.

` Application January 10, 1949, Serial No. 70,088

This invention relates to what are generally known in the art to which it pertains as wire binding machines. It has referentie more particularly to improvements in the wire joining mechanisms, commonly called .knetter mechanisms, of those types of binding machines wherein a rotary carrier is operable to draw a strand of wire from a source of supply and to lay it progressively and under tension about a bundle or package, and in so doing, to place opposite end portions of the band in the wire receiving slot of a twister gear; the gear then being rotated to join the ends of the band in a twisted wire splice of the type generally known in the art as a iiat knot. Subsequent to" the forming of the knot, the strand is cut to releasethe bound bundle from the wire supply and permit it to be discharged from the machine.

Machines oi the types to which the present invention is applicable are typied by those disclosed in United States patents issued to George 1D. Parker under Nos. 1,875,260 andl 2,191,682, and also, by the machines oi my cao-pending applications bearing Serial Nos. 713,224 and 39,568, filed November 30, 1946, and July 19, 1948,'respectively.

It is the principall object of this invention to provide a new and improved wire joining mechanism, or knotter mechanism ior wire binding machines oi the types identied by the above numbered patents and pending applications, that makes possible a faster sequence oi bundle binding operations, that permits a reduction in the number of operating parts as heretofore employed in connection with the twister gear operating mechanism, and makes possible the formation of a more satisfactory twisted wire splice, or knot, particularly in theiina-l disposition of the cut end portions of the binding strand relative to the bound bundle andl to the secured band.

Another object of the invention isf toI provide an improved knetter mechanism that is readily adaptable both to machines of the one-way andreversible types as typied, respectively, by the machines of my two c'o-pending applications above mentioned, andi that is characterized by the `use therein of a knot twisting gear formed with wire receiving slots at opposite sides, thereby making possible the `formation of `a knot in one slet and the releasing of thetied band from that slot inthe usual manner, and eliminating that usual and necessary operation, where* twister gears ofthe single slot type are used, of restoring thegear to its origina-l position preparatory to the next binding operation:

er claims. (ci. 10o-28) Other objects of my invention are to provide cutters for severing the ends oi the wire .strand after the knot is formed, that, by reason of a particular relationship to the formed knot, effect the iinal disposition of the cut ends of the binding strand closely against the surface of the bundle as an insurance against their possible injury to workmen, to provide means for adjusting the timing of the cutters toy out the wire when the twister gear is in a predetermined position approaching its discharge position, and to provide a novel arrangement of the cutters in relation to the twister gear so that the entire length of the cut ends of the wire will be twisted into the knot or splice.

Further objects are to provide an improved and simpiied driving mechanism for the twister gear and cutters, to provide an improved arrangement for the grippers, cutters, and twister gear drive in a common removable unit mounted on one side f the wrapping plane of the machine, to provide an improved form of gripper, to` provide novel structure for imparting the desired backturn to the twist-e1' gear to relieve twisting tension after a knotting operation, to provide brake means for holding the twister gear in a common wire discharging and wire receiving position, and to provide a knot ejector for removing the completed knot from the twister gear.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of the various parts embodied therein, and in their mode of operation that results in the fast, emcient and economical operation of the machine.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the pre'- f'ei'red forms of which are illustrated in the' accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevation of a wire binding machine equipped with a knotter mechanism embodying the improvements of the present invention therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the machine taken substantially on' line 2--2 inFigure 1;

Figure 3` is a horizontal section in the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2, showing the relative location of the wire grippers, the twister gear, the wire cutters, and the twister gear driving means;

Figure Li-` is a vertical section on line 4 4 in Figure 3, showing one of the grippers and gripper in Fig-ure 3 showing the relationship of twister gear, grippers and wire cutters;

Figure 5a is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the twister gear in section and showing a wire in place about a bundle just prior to the twisting of the splice;

Figure 5b is a bottom plan view of the parts as shown in Figure 5a, taken on the line '5b-5b in Figure 5a;

Figure 5c is a view similar to Figure 5a showing the twister gear and splice at the instant the wire is engaged by the cutters to sever the wire;

Figure 6y is a top plan view of the twister gear, grippers and cutters with parts broken away and other parts shown in section; one gripper being shown with its movable jaw retracted and one with the movable jaw extended;

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on line 1 -'l in Figure 3, showing therein one of the wire cutter levers and its actuating cam;

Figure 8 is a section taken in the vertical plane of line 8-8 in Figure 3, showing the ratchet gear as employed in the gear train for driving the twister gear;

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-section of a part of the ratchet gear, taken on line 9-9 in Figure 8;

Figure l0 is a detail of one of the ratchet gear driving pawls;

Figure 11 is an elevation of the knetter driving mechanism as seen from the right-hand end of the machine as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a plan view showing the onerevolution clutch mechanism as used to drive the knotter mechanism;

Figure 13 is a vertical section on line I3-I3 in Figure 12;

Figures 14 to 1S, inclusive, are views diagrammatically illustrating the laying of a wire band about a bundle, and showing relative positions of twister gear, grippers and cutters;

Figure 17 is a schematic wire diagram for the machine.

Figure 18 is a view of the splice made by the present machine; and

Figure 19 isa view of the conventional knot made by prior art machines.

General features of the machine To impart a better vunderstanding of the present invention, it will here be explained that, heretofore, in the use of wire binding machines of those types to which the present knotter mechanism is adaptable, it has been usual, in a binding operation, to hold the primary end of the wire strand in a gripper, adjacent one` end of the twister gear, and by means of a rotary carrier to train the wire'strand about the bundle, under tension, and in doing this, to lay the strand twice in the same direction within the wire receiving slot of the twister gear. However, twister gears, as heretofore used, have embodied but one wire receiving slot therein. Therefore, to permit this laying of the wire strand therein by the carrier, in its normal mode of operation, the gear, at the start of a binding operation, had to be disposed with the slot facing away from the bundle. Then,

to set the parts for the next binding operation,

the twister gear had to be restored to its original position, with the slot faced away from the bundle.

The present invention, being characterized by the use of a twister gear having wire receiving slots therein at opposite sides, has not only eliminated the requirement for restoring the gear to its starting position after each binding operation, but also has eliminated the mechanism required for this operation; has reduced weight in the machine accordingly and has made possible a faster rate of successive binding operations.

The present knotter mechanism, considered as a whole, is not limited in its use to the machine illustrated, which is of the reversible type, but is likewise adaptable to machines which are oneway in their mode of operation. Furthermore,

insofar as the present two-slot twister gear is concerned, it can be used with powered or hand operated machines, so long as they are associated with means whereby a wire strand can be wrapped under tension about a bundle, the ends of the band laid within a slot of the twister gear and held while the gear is rotated to form, the knot. For the purpose of explanation, my invention has been illustrated as applied to a reversible type, power-driven machine that is like,A

or similar, in design and mode of operation, to that of my application led under Serial No. 39,568 on July 19, 1948.

The accompanying drawings show parts of a machine that are essential to the functional use of the present knotter mechanism therein but omit many of those parts that do not have any direct bearing on the vpresent improvements; this being apparent in the omission of parts of the frame structure and those automatic means fully described in the above application for the control of the rotary carrier that lays the wire strand about the bundles.

Referring more in fdetail to the drawings and `particularly to Figures 1 and 2:

I0 designates a vertically disposed frame plate, formed in its upper portion with a large circular opening II. Closely adjacent the plate, at one side of the circular opening I I and -coaxial thereof, is a ring I2 which constitutes the rotary car-v rier means by which a continuous wire strand is drawn from a source of supply and a part thereof trained about the bundle that is to be bound. Supported in the frame structure, at the level of the lower portion of the opening I I and ring I2, is a horizontal table I3 on which bundles are disposed for wrapping. Erected on the table in vertical, parallel planes, perpendicular to the plane of the ring I2, are plates I4 and i5, which, together with the table I3, form a bundle guideway directly through the ring I2.

It is shown in Figure 2 that the table I3 is formed at one side of the plane ofthe ring I2 with a transverse passage IG. Also, the wall plates I4 and I5 are formed with vertical passages as at I'I in Figure 2, that are aligned with the ends of passage IB, thus providing for the laying of the wire strand therethrough and about the bundle, as carried by the ring in the bundle binding operation.

The ring I2 is supported for rotation in a vertical plane by a plurality of grooved wheels I8 that are rotatably mounted on the frame plate I0 as has been shown in Figure 2, and it is adapted to be rotatably driven, in its reverse operations, by a pair of V-belts 20 that extend about a belt flange 2I that is formed as a part of the ring, and about a pulley 22. xed on a driveny shaft 23 which, in this instance, is the drive shaft that extends from a gear reduction mechanism operated by a reversible electric motor 24, shown in Figure 1. l -v Mounted on the ring l2 to extend laterally therefrom and through the opening ll of plate I0 as seen in Figure 2, are posts 25, each of which rotatably mounts a grooved, wire-carrying wheel 26 at its end. These grooved wheels, shown in Figure 1 to be six in number, are disposed in the vertical plane of the table passage I6 and wall passages Il.

In Figure 1, the binding strand, which is designated by reference character B, extends from a source of wire supply, not shown, over tension rolls 3|, about slack take-up wheels 32H33, thence over a guide wheel 34, thence between paired guide wheels`35-35 mounted on the frame I0 directly above the ring l2, thence it is trained over some of the guide wheels 26, and passed from the ring l2 to the knetter mechanism. It is to be understood that the wire strand B, in passing from the ring I2, is led between two of the Wire carrier wheels on the ring that are closely` spaced. These particular wheels are designated by reference `numerals 26a and 26h. For succesisve binding operations, the ring l2 rotates in opposite directions, and therefore the wire strang B, as held at its primary end` in one or the other of the grippers of the knotter mecha nism, willbe payed out alternately over wheel 26a and wheel 2Gb. The wheels 26 operate to support the strand in the clear of the ring passage so as not to interfere with the bundle movement. l The vertical plane in which the wire strand is carried by wheels 26 about the bundle will for purpose of explanation be referred to as the wrapping plane. This coincides with the Vertical plane of the table passage I6 and for binding purposes, a bundle is placed on the table so as to extend through this wrapping plane.

Twister gear ping plane comprise the adjacent end portions of metal bars -50 that, as seen best in Figure 3, are located between and extend parallel with the guideways 42-42. These blocks and the bars are formed with coasting seats, as at 5I, thatrotatably contain the gear trunnions 45--45 therein.

The distinctive feature of the present twister gear is that it is formed along opposite sides with wire receiving slots 52-52' which have a width substantially equal to the diameter of. the wire, are continuous and extend to the full length of the trunnions. The bottoms of these slots are brought close to the axialcenter of the gear, leaving metal betweenthem consistent with safety, as will be understood by reference to Figure 8.

Wire grippers The grippers which are designed to hold the ends of the wire band as applied about a bundle, and while a knot is` being formed, are located just beyond the ends of the twister gear` trunnions, as shown best in Figures 3. 4 and 5. Each gripper comprises a stationary gripper jaw 54 and a movable jaw 55. The stationary jaws are located at, and are set within the ends of the guideways 42-42 as in Figure: 4, and somewhat outwardly offset from the wrapping plane. The movable jaws 55 and 55 are shown to be xed to the` outer ends of slides or bars 5l5ll longitudinally and slidably contained in the guideways 42 and 42 as noted in Figure 3. These bars extend from the guideways, at their ends opposite those which carry the grippers., and at these ends have operative connections, respectively, with the piston rods 58--58 of air cylinders 59 and 59'.

The air cylinders are controlled, respectively, by air valves. 20E-206 (Figure 17), in such manner, as presently explained, as to open and close the movable jaws in proper timing with the laying of the strand by the ring l2. When a movable jaw is shifted to its extended or open position, as is the lower jaw in Figure 6, the wire strand B, as laid by the ring l2 in the receiving slot of the twister gear, will be laid directly between this movable jaw and its complemental stationary jaw. When the movable jaw is extended, it is bolted by bolts 43 (Figure 3) or otherwise iixed to the under side of table i3. The guidewalls, as

. seen in Figure 3, are parallel, spaced apart and tively, at opposite sides of the wrapping plane.

The gear supporting `bearings 48-48 at `one side of the wrapping plane comprise metal blocks fixed tothe under side of thev table I3. The bearings 45k-4% at the other sideof the wrapdisposed at the inside of the wrapping plane, and in closing upon a wire strand, will pull the strand to the outside of the wrapping plane. By reference to Figure 4, it will be understood that the complemental jaws of an open gripper provide a downwardly opening mouth into which a binding strand will be laid coincident with its being laid in the receiving slot of the twister gear.

As a feature of the gripper construction, the stationary jaw, in each instance, has a short stud 62 extending outwardly therefrom to project into a hole 62am the movable jaw 4when the latter is in closed position. When the movable jaw is in open position it extends out considerably beyond the end of the stud as shown in Figure 6, the stud being of a length to exceed the diameter of the wire strand but` of insufficient length to reach out to the wrapping plane. The rear or inside clamping surface of each movable jaw :is also provided with a small projection B3 of somewhat greater height perpendicular to the jaw surface than the wire diameter and arranged to project into `a complementary recess 63a in the face of the stationary jaw at one side of the studl62 when the movable jaw is closed. The dimensions of the recess 63d are considerably larger than the projection 63 so that a portion of the wire strand may be engaged by the projection 63` and bent `rathersharply into the recess, without` interfering with the closing of the movable jaw, to clamp adjacent portions of the wire against the stationary jaW. This feature of the jaw construction is best shown in Figures a, 5b and 5c.

When a wire strand is laid in the open gripper by the carrier, and the movable jaw is then closed against this wire, the Wire will be carried between the stud y62 and the gripper slide bar and will lie across the end of projection 63. As the movable jaw is .pulled up tightly into its gripping position, the end of projection 63 enters a slight distance into the recess 63a forming a small loop or crimp 63D in the wire as shown in Figure 5b. This crimp is disposed in a horizontal plane and is bent rather sharply around the corners of the projection and recess to afford a firm grip on the wire with the wire tension being sustained primarily by the stationary jaw member- Then, with the cutting of the wire and reversal of the machine, While this gripper is still closed, the wire band will be drawn downwardly, and about the stud 62, which serves as a turning point and as a further anchor to insure against any accidental slippage of the end of the wire band from between the closed jaws.

In Figures 5a, 5b and 5c the wire end 302 in gripper GI thus comprises a hairpin loop in a vertical plane around stud 62 and having the horizontal crimp 63D in the upper leg of the hairpin. The lower leg of the hairpin may also extend across the depression 63a but is not engaged by the projection `63 to form a crimp. The other Wire end 302 in gripper G2 is anchored primarily by its crimp `631) but is not bent around the stud 62 until the band laying ring is reversed for the next binding operation. A very reliable and secure anchor for the wire is thereby obtained by reason of -the fact that the fire cannot slip off the end of stud 62 and also because of the fact that stud 62 and depression 63a both serve to anchor the wire to the stationary jaw member so that the stress of the wire tension is not applied to the slide bar of the movable jaw.

After the wire has been cut, and when the jaws subsequently are opened apart, the U -shaped end of the Wire which is looped about stud 62 is positively disengaged therefrom by a leaf spring 64. This spring is set in a recess 65 in the face of the stationary jaw and is fixed in such manner that one end portion thereof will be sprung inwardly by the wire as the jaws close upon it, but with the opening of the jaws, the spring forces the looped end of wire from the stud and it drops from the machine. The leaf spring 64 is intended merely to be illustrative of one form of disengaging or ejector means as this means may take various forms as may be devised by persons skilled in theart. The recess 65 may communicate with or form a part of the recess 63a. Spring 64 is shown in Figures 4 and 5 but is omitted for clearness in Figures 5a, 5b and 5c.

Twister gear drive mechanism The twister gear G is rotated for the knot forming operation through the medacy of a gear train that comprises a relatively large gear wheel 68, which I will refer to as a ratchet gear, and an idler gear wheel 69. The idler gear operates clirectly in mesh with the teeth of the twister gear and also is in mesh with the teeth of the ratchet gear as is best shown in Figure 8. The idler is mounted freely on a shaft that extends between the bearing bars 50 and 50. The ratchet gear wheel 68 is of annular form and is mounted for one-way rotation on a wheel body disk 68x, having a central hub portion 6811 fixed on a horizontally mounted drive shaft 12. The gear wheel 68 is retained on the disk between ring plates 13-13 fixed to opposite sides of the disk 68x as seen in Figure 9. A plurality of pawls 14 are set pivotally in sockets 15 in the disk edge, and are urged outwardly by springs 14:1: to engage in ratchet notches 16 formed at 1Z0-degree intervals in the inner edge of gear 68 for the one-way rotation of this gear.

The shaft 12 is rotatably supported in bearings 11--11 formed on the plates 40--40 and extends from the knotter housing as shown best in Figure l to the right-hand end of the machine, where it is rotatably supported in a bearing 18. Near its outer end, shaft 12 has a driving gear wheel 80 keyed or otherwise fixed thereon.

Operating in mesh with the gear is a rack bar 8|. This, as seen best in Figures 1l and 12, is pivotally fixed at one end to a crank arm 82 by means of a crank pin 83. The crank arm is xed on a crank shaft 84 that is periodically rotatably driven, as presently explained. The rack bar 8| is reciprocally mounted in bearings 85-85 (Figure 1l) formed on a bracket 86 that has pivoted support on the shaft 12 at opposite sides of gear 80. The arrangement of these parts is such that with each rotation of the crank shaft 84, the rack bar 8| is reciprocated, and the extent of reciprocation is such as to oscillate the gear 80 and shaft 12 through an arc of slightly more than 120 degrees. Since the hub portion 68g of the ratchet gear 68 is fixed to shaft 12, it I will be understood that with each oscillation of the shaft and wheel body disk 68:0, the pawls 14 carried by the disk Will be caused to engage in notches 16 of the gear 68 to rotatably advance the gear and thus, through the idler gear wheel 68, to rotate the twister gear for a knot twisting operation. In the present arrangement, the twister gear G is turned from a starting position at which a wire receiving slot is faced directly downward, slightly more than three and one-half turns, then is slightly reversed to bring the knotcontaining slot to a directly upwardly faced position for release of the band from the gear.

The ratchet gear 68 is yieldingly held against free reverse rotation by means illustrated best in Figure 3, wherein it is shown that a gear wheel is disposed in mesh with the gear 68. Gear 90 is fixed on a shaft 9| that is revoluble in bearings 32-02 formed in the plates 40-40. One end of shaft 9| extends through and beyond the adjacent supporting plate and is equipped with a brake drum 93 about which a brake band 94 is applied; the band being supported from a bracket 96 on the adjacent plate 40 and its braking tension adjusted as desired by a bolt 91 applied through the bracket and ends of the brake band. To effect the slight reverse turning of the twister gear after a knot has been formed, which is for a purpose presently fully explained, an arm |00 is fixed to the end of shaft 12 as seen in Figures 2 and 3. With the turning of the shaft 12 as effected by the upward reciprocal action of the rack bar 8|, this arm |00 is caused to swing counter-clockwise from the full-line position shown in Figure 2 to the dotted-line position, at which latter position it is definitely stopped by engagement with a stop bolt 0-| mounted adjustably in a lug |02 extended from the adjacent plate 40. Mounted in the end of arm |00 is a stud |03. Also, it is shown in Figures 2 and 3 that an arm |04 is fixed on the adjacent end of shaft 9| in the plane of travel of the stud |03.

The arrangement of these parts is such that, incident to the swinging of arm in a counterclockwise direction from 'the full-line position of Figure 2, up against the stop bolt |0|,` the arm |04, by reason of the geared connection between shafts `|2 and 9|, is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction from the full-line position shown, through slightly more than one complete turn, stopping in its dotted-line position of Figure 2, up against the under side Vof stud |03. Then, with the downward reciprocal action of the rack bar and the return of the lever arm |00 to starting position, the stud I 03, in passing, will engage with and cause the arm I 04 to be turned back a slight amount, thus to rotate the shaft 9| and gear 00 accordingly. This slight turning action of gear 30, operating through the ratchet gear wheel 60,

results in the slight back turning of the twister gear, which in a knot twisting operation is stopped after turning somewhat past its wire discharge point. This back turning of the twister gear brings the wire-containing slot back to the discharge point and incidentally .relieves that twisting tension in the wire that tends to hold the knot in the slot.`

For the present operation, the knot is formed by turning the twister gear through approximately three and one-half turns. In accomplishing this, the crank shaft 84 is operated through exactly one complete turn for each binding operation, and this takes place following each wirelaying operation. The timing of crank shaft operation is controlled by the wire carrier ring I2 as presently explained. The knotter driving means is independent of the wire carrier means. It comprises an electric motor I I0, shown best in Figures 1, 2, 11, and l2, which operates through a gear reduction mechanism, indicated at I, to continuously drive a horizontal shaft ||2. A sprocket wheel ||4 is fixed on the shaft I I2 in alignment with a larger sprocket that is rotatably mounted on the crank shaft 84. A chain belt operates about sprockets ||4 and ||'I to continuously drive the latter. This sprocket may be connected, under automatic control, with shaft 84 through the use of a one-revolution clutch mechanism comprising parts as shown best in Figure 12. The Wheel I I I is revolubly mounted on the crank shaft 84 adjacent a wheel |20 that is keyed on the shaft 84 to serve as its driving member. `The wheel |20 is formed with a circumferential groove |2| and a clutch locking bolt |22 is slidably mounted in the Wheel, parallel with itsaxis, to extend transversely through the base of the groove |2| and beyond the face of the Wheel, as in Figure 13, to such extent that it may be engaged in driving contact with one of a plurality of lugs |25 formed on the adjacent face of the near sprocket wheel A coiled spring |26 is contained in the bolt guide bearing` |2'I and bears against the clutch bolt and urges it toward position for driving contact by one of the sprocket wheel lugsA l A clutch bolt release lever |30 is pivoted at its outer end by a bolt |3| ona bracket |32 fixed in the frame. The other end of the lever rides in the wheel groove |2|, see Figure 13, and at this end has a beveled side surface |33, as seen in Figure l2. It is also shown in Figure l2 that the bolt is formed on its outer side with a cross channel |34 with an angularly sloping side surface |35. With the rotation of wheel |20 that engages the beveledend surface |33 of the lever `with the bolt surface |35, the bolt will be retracted against the pressure of spring |26 and thus disengaged at its outer end from the sprocket wheel lug |25 to stop the driving of shaft 84. 4

A solenoid |40 is mounted in the frame directly above the lever |30, and the solenoid core |4| is connected to a lug |42 on lever |30 by a link |43. To engage the clutch for a cycle of operations, the solenoid is momentarily energized by means presently described, thus causing the lever |30 to be momentarily lifted from the clutch Wheel |20 and the bolt |22 released. Spring |26 then pushes the bolt outwardly, causing it to effect a driving connection between the continuously driven sprocket wheel |'I and wheel |20, thus to drive the crank shaft B4. The lever |30 immediately drops back into the wheel groove |2| and effects disengagement of the clutch bolt from the sprocket, and thus stops the crank shaft upon its making one complete rotation.

Wire cutters After a wire has been wrapped about a bundle and the knot formed to secure the band, the ends of the wire are cut to `release the bundle from lower ends positioned to be engaged and simultaneously actuated downwardly and toward the wrapping plane by adjustable cams |68 on the shaft 12. This action will Vcause the upper end portions of the levers to swing upwardly and cause the cutter plates |66 that are set therein to coact, with shearing eifect, with similar hardcned cutter plates |10 that are set within the adjacent faces of the guideways 42-42. Coiled springs |12 are attached under tension to the levers and to studs set in the plates 40 to normally retain the levers |65 in retracted positions as in full line in Figure 7.

It is shown in Figure 6 that the cutters |10 have downwardly faced shearing edges that project slightly beyond the ends of the guideways 42 toward the wrapping plane. edges are in such position that when the end portion of a wire strand is pulled, by closing movement of a movable jaw of a gripper, up against a stationary gripper jaw, to hold the wire, it will thus be drawn out of the wrapping plane to a position below this shearing edge as shown in Figures 5a and 5b. Then, when the corresponding cutter lever |65 is actuated upwardly, its shearing plate will coact with the xed plate to cut the strand.

The shearing edges of each pair of cutters define a cutting plane, and the distance between the two cutting planes may be designated as the cutting length. Both the fixed and `movable gripper jaws have edge portions extending into the respective cutting planes, and, since these edge portions determine the over-all twisted length of the splice, the twisted length is thereby made equal to the cutting length. In other words, the entire length of each cut end of the v/ire is contained in the twisted part of the splice.

An important feature of the present machine resides in the provision of means for adjusting These shearing the timing of the cutters in relation to the rotation of the twister gear. This is accomplished by mounting the cams |68 loosely on shaft 12 and driving the cams through links |13 connected with lugs |14 on the hub 681/. One end of each link is pivotally connected with the cam and the other end is threaded to receive nuts |15 on opposite sides of the lug |14 so that the effective length of each link may be shortened or lengthened to change the angular position of the cams on the shaft. It is thereby possible to cut the strand when the twister gear is in a predetermined position, and in motion, approaching its knot discharge position, so that the entire knot will be rotated in the final movement of the twister gear to place the cut ends on the bundle side of the knot, to make an improved splice of the so-called flat knot type. The adjustment to accomplish this new result, and the form of the new splice, will be 'described hereinafter in greater detail.

Another feature of importance is the association of the cutters, grippers, and immediate driving mechanism for the twister gear in a single removable unit mounted on one side of the wrapping Aplane and table passage I6. By merely unbolting the guideways 42 from the under side of the table and detaching the piston rods 58 for the grippers ythis unit may easily be taken out of the machine for adjustment or other purposes without dismantling any other part of the machine. It will be apparent that the twister gear will be freed by the removal of this unit so that it may be laid in place in its bearing halves 49-49 to index the positions of the other cooperating parts when the unit is out of the machine.

The objects and advantages of the invention may also be attained by mounting this removable unit behind one of the vertical side plates I4 or l5 in the same relation to Vertical passage |1 that the unit bears to the horizontal table passage I6 in the present embodiment. The changes necessary for a side mounting of the unit will be apparent .to a person skilled in the art.

The improved splice The conventional form of nat knot type of twisted wire splice formed by wire binding machines known in the prior art is shown in Figure 19. A flat knot type of splice is characterized by a short untwisted portion 300 between two twisted Iportions 30|, vwhereby the cut wire ends 302 extend in opposite directions away from the splice and along the standing parts 303 of the wire as shown. The central flat portion 300 of the splice is formed by the narrow part of the slot in the center of the twister gear where the wires are not` allowed to twist. The Xtwisted portions 30| extend from the edge of the narrow part of the slot in the twister gear back along the standing parts 303 of the wire part of the distance to the cut ends 302. In conventional machines the wire portions 302 are conned in ixed slots between the twister gear and cutters 'during the twisting operation, with the result that the straight ends 302 must necessarily extend from the twisted portion 30| to some length n the iinished knot. It is a common occurrence for one or the other of these untwisted ends to project out from the bundle at the completion i of the binding operation, 'or to become caught later in the handling of such bundles and bent out so that it is in a position to cause damage to other bundles and constitute a hazard to workmen.

l the respective grippers.

The present machine forms a flat knot type of splice as shown in Figure 18 in which the out ends 302 are twisted right up to their extremities so that there will be no untwisted ends to possibly project angularly from the splice, and by adjusting the timing of the cutters in the manner hereinabove described the cut ends will always be insured of disposition on the bundle side of the standing parts 303. Figures 5a and 5c are sequence views showing how the present splice is formed in the wire joining mechanism of the machine, Figure 5b being a bottom plan View of the sequence step shown in Figure 5a. Figures 5a and 5b show the wire wrapped around a bundle and laid twice in the bottom slot of the twister gear with the portions 302 secured in At this stage of operation, prior to twisting of the splice, the portions 302 are still attached to adjoining parts of the wire, one 0f these Wire parts being a short hair pin loop secured in the gripper GI and the other part being the wire from the wire supply extending through gripperl GZ. The grippers hold the two parts 302 beneath the bottom `shearing edges of the stationary cutter blades |10 at one side of the wrapping plane while the standing parts 303 remain in the wrapping plane so as to pass outside of the grippers and beyond the ends of the stationary cutter blades |10. In Figures 5a and 5b the twister gear and cutters |65 are in the same positions shown in full lines in Figure 7.

Figure 5c shows the condition of the splice at the instant the movable cutter blades |66 have moved to their broken line position in Figure 7 to engage the portions 302 of the wire against the lower shearing edges of the stationary cutters |10 to cut the wires. The cam |03 (Figure 7) is positioned on shaft 12 by adjustment 0f the nuts |15 so that the movable cutting blades |65 reach their cutting position just before the twister gear reaches its discharge position. Thus, in Figure 5c, which is an elevation View, the wire containing slot of the twister gear is in approximately horizontal position on the rear side of the gear and rotating upwardly toward the bundle. At the instant of cutting, the splice is already twisted from the gear out to the cutters, and in the iinal ninety degrees or so of rotation of the twister gear the out ends are frictionally engaged by the cutting blades to tighten the splice to the very extremities of the cut ends.

In the present device it is important to note that there are no wire confining slots between the twister gear and the cutters, the twisting of the wire being continuous and uniform from the narrow part of the twister gear slot to the shearing edges of the cutters. As previously mentioned, the spacing of the grippers determines the twisting length for the splice, and by making this length equal to the cutting length the whole length of the cut ends is twisted into the splice. The wire is confined only by the twister gear and the grippers, the latter being beyond the splice and having no contact with parts of the wire which will be on the bundle after the wire is cut. After the wire is cut the twisting tension holds the knot in the twister gear slot as the gear continues to rotate.

The cams |68 are, of course, individually adjustable through suicient range to accommodate variations in diiferent kinds and sizes of wire so that each of the cut ends 302 may be invariably disposed on the bundle side of the adjacent standing part 303 after the splice has been ejected from the twister gear and is disposed against the side of the bundle. By reason of the acerbes slight overturn of the twister gear` and then its reverse movement to direct its Wire holding slot toward the bundle (vertically upward in the present machine) the central untwisted portion 300 of the splice stands in a `vertical position as shown in Figure 18. It is found that the present type of action wherein the completed splice is bodily rotated through an adjustable angle to its desired nal position after the cutting operabundle in every case and not occasionally twist f around to a more exposed position.

In prior known knotter mechanisms, this uniformity of the splice has not been achieved. In .splices made in the prior machines, it may be observed that the flat central portions 308 vary in orientation from the position shown in Figure 19 to that shown i-n Figure 18 with consequent variations` in the positions assumed by the untwisted projecting ends 302. In the present splice shown in Figure 18, the cut ends do not project more than the thickness of the wire in any position, so that even if the cutters are not carefully adjusted, a superior splice will be formed which is safer to handle and which is also stronger than the conventional machine made at knot. The additional twisted length and extra turn of the present splice make the splice i stronger whereby the same strength of binding may be obtained with a smaller size wire. With a `tight twist of three and one-half turns, as shown, the splice, in common binding wire, is found to have a strength in tension equal to the strength of the wire.

Knot ejector To positively insure the ejection of the knot from the twister gear slot, I have provided an ejector means as shown in Figure 2.` Mounted on the bearing blocks 48 that Support the twister gear G at one side of the wrapping plane is a plate |80. This is supported pivotally by a shaft I8I so `that one end portionl thereof may be swung upwardly and into the wrapping plane to engage against the wire band as applied about a bundle and as contained in the twister gear slot, just prior to the wire cutting operation. This plate is actuated in timing with the knotting operation by means of an air cylinder |82 which is pivoted by a bolt |83 on a bracket |84 attached to the under side of plate I3, and the cylindercontains a piston from which a rod |85 extends and which rod is connected pivotally to the plate |80 in a manner whereby,vupon the application of air under pressure to the cylinder, the rod will be extended to pivotally actuate the plate to cause an upwardly swinging edge thereof to engage the band and positively insure its upward displacement from the twister gear slot, which slot, at the time of engagement of the wire, is faced toward the bundle. f

The operation of the air cylinder |82 is under control of a solenoid valve |83 which admits air to and exhausts it from. the cylinder in proper timing with the binding operation. A source of supply of air under pressure is designated in Figure 17 at |85, and this also furnishes air for operation of the cylinders 59 and 58 under control of the solenoid valves 205 and 206 that are indicated in Figure 17. i

Primary `mechanical functionsof the machine With the parts so constructed and assembled as so far described, and with the strand of wire extended from the wire supply, over the various tensioning and guide wheels; and then about grooved wheels 26 of the ring I2 and secured at its primary end in one of the grippers, and with a bundle in position'rfor binding as designated in Figures 1 and 2, a binding operation would be as follows:` Starting with the ring I2 in position of Figure 14 and the end of the strand held in the gripperA designated GI, and gripper G2 also retracted, out of the wrapping plane, the motor 24 is energized and ring I2 set in motion, turning counter-clockwise. The turning of the ring I2 causes the primary end of the wire strand first to be laid in that wire receiving slot of the twister gear that faces downward and away from the bundle, then as the ring continues to turn, the strand is laid under tensioncompletely about the bundle and again laid in the twister gear slot. The other slot of the twister gear would not be used in this particular binding operation. Immediately after the wire strand has been laid in the twister gear slot the first time and the ring has carried the strand across the bottom surface of the bundle, the gripper G2 is opened and thus the movable jaw thereof is extended to the opposite side of the wrapping plane. Therefore, when the ring |2 lays the wire the second time in the twister gear slot, the secondary end of the band will be laid directly in the open gripper G2, whereupon gripper G2 is closed and its movable jaw pulls the end portion of the wire strand to a position below the cutter blade at that sideof the knot.

It is intended that the present machine may be operated under automatic control as does the machine of my co-pending application Serial No. 39,568. This requires that the motor Ill) shall run continuously and that the ring driving motor 24 shall be started by closing a switch that supplies current thereto and that at the end of a binding operation, which requiresthat the ring I2 be rotated through about one and one-fourth turns, the switch will be automatically opened to stop the motor. Also, it is intended that with the opening of the switch to stop the ring driving motor, a circuit will be closed to energize the solenoid |48 to cause the engaging of the onerevolution clutch and thus effect one complete turn of the shaft 84 and, by reciprocal action of rack bar 8|, to effect the knot-forming operation.

In this operation, the twister gear is turned through approximately three and one-half turns. With the nal twisting action, the cams IS actuate the wire cutter levers against the held end portions of the wire strand at points' between the knot and grippers and thus cut the strands and free the bundle from the wire supply. Then with the slight reverse turning of the gear 68, as previously explained, the twisting tension on the wire is relieved and the knot is freed from the gear slot. Positive ejection of the knot is insured by knot ejector |80. I I u The knot discharge position of the twister gear in one binding operation is the wire receiving position of the gear for the nextbinding operation without any movement of the gear between successive operations. When the wire containing slot of the gear is facing the bundle for discharge of one completed knot the opposite empty slot faces away from the bundle to receive the wire for the next knot. Thus, the two twister gear slots are used alternately, one slot always being empty. i

Electrical control system The general mode of operation of the present machine is substantially like that of my copending application Serial No. 39,568 andthe same electrical System is used for its control. The control system provides that upon closing an electric circuit through the driving motor 24 for the reversible ring I2, the ring will be set in motion and will be rotated through approximately 11/4 turns, thus as has been explained, to lay a band of wire about the bundle and in so doing to place the opposite end portions thereof in the downwardly facing slot of the twister gear. At the end of the wire-laying operations, a pawl that is mounted on the ring I2 engages with and actuates a switch control mechanism whereby a switch is opened to open the motor circuit and thus stop the rotation of the ring. .At the same time, the mechanism causes another switch to be momentarily closed to energize the solenoid |40, thus to engage the one-revolution clutch to effect a driving connection between the twister gear mechanism and motor l |0 as previously explained, to perform the wire-twisting operation and to cut the ends of the bands free from the grippers.

In the wiring diagram shown in Figure 1'1, power input wires |90, |9|, and |9|a lead to a main switch |92 from which line connections |93, |94, and |95 are made with a standard type of reversing switch |96. Line connections |91, |98, and |99 lead from switch |96 to the motor 24. Also, line connections 200-l and 202 are made between the power input lines and a control box 203 and from the latter to the knotter motor H0, which latter motor may be turned on or o by means of a control switch, here designated at 204. This motor runs continuously during operation of binding bundles.

Solenoid valves 205 and 208, which, respectively, control the application of air to the cylinders 59 and 59', are connected with their respective switches 208 and 209 by wires 2|0-2|| and 2|2-2l3. The clutch-controlling solenoid |40 has connections 2|4 and 2|5 with limit switches 2|6 and 2|1, and these switches, respectively, have connections 220-22l and 222-223 with the reversing switch |96 for its control, and

there are power line connections 224-225 leading to switches 288 and 209 and connections 226-221 leading to switches 2|6 and 2|1.

Switches 209 and 2|1 are synchronously actuated by the ring |2 when turning in one direction, and switches 20B and 2|6 likewise are synchronously actuated by the turning of the ring in the other direction. To accomplish this, two oppositely faced pawls 250 and 25| are mounted on the ring |2 as indicated in Figure 17. Pawl 250 is arranged to twice engage a ratchet wheel 252 when the ring lays the band about a package in one direction, and pawl 25| twice engages a ratchet 252e when the wheel lays the band in the other direction.

Ratchet Wheel 252 is mounted on a rotatablyr supported shaft 253 which mounts wheels 254 and 255 thereon. Ratchet wheel 252e, likewise, is mounted on a rotatably mounted shaft 255 which mounts Wheels 251 and 258 thereon.

The switches 209 and 2 1 have actuating levers 209 and 2|1 which are disposed to be actuated by wheels 254 and 255, while switches 208 and ZIB are likewise arranged to be actuated by wheels 251 and 258, through the switch levers 208 and 2|6.

The starting of the machine for successive binding operations is under control of a switch designated at 215 that has switch buttons that may be selectively depressed to cause the ring I2 to rotate either in clockwise or counterclockwise direction. This switch is connected to the reversing switch by Wires 21S-211 and 218-219.

Solenoid valve |88 for the knot ejector air cylinder |82 is momentarily energized after the completion of each knotting operation by a switch 280 in a circuit 28|, 282 connected with the wires 226, 221. As shown in Figure 12, the switch 280 has a spring biased button operator 283 arranged to be engaged by a cam disc 284 on the crank shaft 84. This shaft makes one complete revolution in each knotting operation and the cam 284 is designed to depress the button 283 to close the switch for a short interval in the down stroke of the rack bar 8| after the twister gear has been back turned to relieve the twisting tension and place the wire-containing slot in its discharge position. At this time the disc 88a: (Figure 8) is rotating freely within the ratchet gear E8 while the latter, and hence also the twister gear, is held stationary by the brake band 94 (Figure 2). By the time the crank shaft 84 has completed its revolution the switch 280 is again opened causing the air pressure in double acting cylinder |82 to retract the ejector plate |80 back to its Figure 2 position to clear the passage I5 for the next wire laying operation.

It is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as obvious modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1. In a wire binding machine, a double slotted twister gear having one slot in Wire receiving position when the other slot is in wire discharge position, a gear for rotating said twister gear, an oscillating shaft, a ratchet connection between said shaft and said gears for rotating said gears in one direction of oscillation of said shaft, and a brake mechanism associated with said gears to prevent rotation of the gears when the shaft oscillates in the opposite direction.

2. In a wire binding machine, a twister gear, a gear for driving said twister gear, an oscillating shaft having a ratchet connection with said gears to rotate said twister gear in only one direction, a third gear in mesh with said gears, and means -on said shaft for rotating said third gear a relatively small amo-unt by the reverse oscillation of said shaft to impart sufficient back turn to said twister gear to relieve the twisting tension in the wire after a knotting operation.

3. In a wire binding machine, a twister gear, a gear fo-r driving said twister gear, an oscillating shaft having a ratchet connection with said driving gear to rotate said twister gear in one direction for'a knotting operation, a second shaft having a gear in mesh with said driving gear, a brake mechanism on said second shaft to hold said twister gear stationary when said oscillating shaft reverses, and means on said oscillating shaft operable to overcome the holding effort of said brake mechanism to impart a relatively small reverse movement to said second shaft upon reversal of said oscillating shaft to back turn said twister gear to knot discharging position after the completion of a knotting operation.

4. In a wire binding machine having a twister gear, a driving gear for rotating said twister gear in one direction to twist together the ends of the wire band after a band laying operation, an oscillating shaft having` a ratchet connection with said driving gear to rotate the gear in said one direction, a third gear in mesh with said driving gear, an arm mounted in fixed rotative relation with said third gear, and an arm on said oscillating shaft engageable with said first mentioned arm in the reverse rotation of said shaft to rotate said third gear in a direction to impart back turn to said twister gear after a knotting operation to release the knot from` the twister gear.

5. In a wire binding machine, a double slotted twister gear having one slot in wire receiving psition when the other slot is in wire discharge position, a reciprocating rack bar for rotating said twister gear an odd number of half revolutions to twist a splice and leave the gear in position to discharge said twisted splice, a crank shaft pivotally connected with said rack bar, an electric motor for driving said crank shaft, a one revolution clutch in the driving connection between said motor and said crank shaft, a band laying member for laying the wire to be spliced in one of said slots when the other slot is in discharge position, and means operated by said band laying member for actuating said clutch.

6. In a binding machine, a double slotted twister gear having one slot in wire receiving position when the other slot is in wire discharge position, a gear for rotating said twister gear in one direction to perform a knotting operation, an oscillating shaft engageable with said second gear in one direction of rotation to perform said knotting operation, a rack gear on said shaft, a sliding rack bar engaging said rack gear, a revolving crank arm pivotally connected with said rack bar to reciprocate the rack bar and oscillate said shaft, a motor for rotating said crank arm, a one-revolution clutch in the driving connectionbetween said motor and said crank arm to cause rotation of said crank arm through one revolution in each binding operation of the machine, a band laying member for laying the wire to be spliced in one of` said slots when the other slot is in discharge position, and means operated by said band laying member for actuating said clutch.

7. In a wire binding machine having a twister gear, a pair of stationary gripper jaws disposed on opposite sides of said twister gear and adapted to receive wire from a reversible band `laying ring, studs in said jaws to form. loops in said wire when the band laying ring is reversed, movable gripper jaws to grip said wire against said stationary jaws, said movable jaws having openings to' receive the ends of said studs, said stationary and movable jaws having complementary recesses and projections `to crimp and grip straight portions of said wire, and fluid pressure operated means connected to said movable gripper jaws for moving said jaws to gripping position.

8. In a wire binding machine having a twister gear, a pair of stationary gripper jaws disposed on opposite sides of said twister gear and adapted to receive wire from a reversible band laying ring, studs in said jaws to form loops in said wire when the band laying ring is reversed, movable gripper jaws to grip said wire against said stationary jaws, said stationary jaws having recesses facing said movable jaws, and projections in said movable jaws to crimp portions of said wire into said recesses.

9. In a wire binding machine having a twister gear, a` pair of stationary gripper' jaws disposed on opposite sides of said twister gear and adapted to receive wire from a reversible band laying ring, studs in said jaws to form loops in said wire when the `band laying ring is reversed, and movable gripper jaws to grip said wire against said stationary jaws, said stationary and movable jaws having complementary recesses and projections to. crimp and grip straight portions of said wire before said band laying ring is reversed to form said loops about said studs.

10. In a binding machine, a slotted twister gear, a fluid pressure operated ejector for removing a yknot from said twister gear, a motor for driving said twister gear, a shaft intermediate between said motor and said twister gear, driven to make one revolution in each knotting operation of the twister gear, and switch means actuated by said shaft for controlling the fluid pressure supply of said ejector.

l1. In a wire binding machine, a rotatable band laying ring, a motor for driving said ring, a twister gear, a second motor for driving said twister gear, wire grippers associated with said twister gear, fluid pressure cylindersy for operating said grippers, means operable by said ring to control the operation of said gripper cylinders, and means operable by said ring to control the operation of said twister gear.

l2. In a wire binding machine, a rotatable band laying ring, a motor for driving said ring, a twister gear, a second motor for drivingsaid twister gear, wire grippers associated with said twister gear, switch means operable by said ring to control the operation of said grippers, a driving connection between said second motor and said `twister gear including a crank shaft, a clutch on said crank shaft, and a reciprocating rack bar pivotally connected with a crank on said crank shaft, and switch means operable by said ring to control the operation of said clutch.

13. In a wire binding machine, a rotatable band laying ring, a motor for driving said ring, a twister gear, a second motor for driving said twister gear, wire grippers associated with said twister gear, fluid pressure cylinders for operating said grippers, a knot ejector associated with said twister gear, a fluid pressure cylinder for operating said ejector, means operable by said ring to control the operation of said gripper cylinders, a driving connection between said second motor and said twister gear including a crank shaft and a clutch on said crank shaft, means operable by said ring to control the operation of said clutch, and means operable by said crank shaft to control the operation of said ejector cylinder.

14. In a wire binding machine, a double slotted twister gear for splicing the wire having one slot in wire receiving position when the other slot is in wire discharge position and having said other slot in receiving position when said one slot is in discharge position, means for rotating said gear in successive splicing operations starting each time from the last previous discharge position of the gear and ending in a different discharge position, and means to lay the wire in' said two slots alternately in successive binding operations.

15. In a wire binding machine, a double slotted twister gear having two different wire discharge positions, one for each slot, means for rotating said gear in successive knotting operations starting each time from the last .previous discharge position and ending in the other discharge position, and means to lay the ,wire for each knotting 

